Digital camera

Abstract

A digital still camera having an image pickup device which picks up an image formed by a photographing lens includes a photographing lens provided with at least two lens groups of which the rearmost lens group does not move in the optical axis direction and a sealing member which seals a photographing light path defined between the rearmost lens group and the image pickup device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A digital camera having an image pickup device which picks up an image formed by a photographing lens comprising: a photographing lens comprising at least two lens groups of which the rearmost lens group does not move in the optical axis direction; and   a sealing member which seals a light path defined between said rearmost lens group and said image pickup device.   
     
     
       2. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said photographing lens is a zoom lens and wherein said rearmost lens group does not move in the optical axis direction during the zooming operation or focusing operation of the zoom lens. 
     
     
       3. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said sealing member is made of a cylindrical member which forms an image pickup unit in which said rearmost lens group and said image pickup device are made integral with each other. 
     
     
       4. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said sealing member is made of a cylindrical member which forms an image pickup unit in which said rearmost lens group and said image pickup device are made integral with each other. 
     
     
       5. A digital camera according to claim 4, wherein said zoom lens is provided with a lens barrel which moves said first and second lens groups between a photographable position and a storage position, and a linkage which is adapted to move said image pickup unit into or out of the photographing light path through said support plate in association with the movement of said first and second lens groups. 
     
     
       6. A digital camera according to claim 4, wherein said zoom lens is a power zoom lens and is provided with a cam plate which is moved in a direction perpendicular to said optical axis of said power zoom lens in association with said zooming operation of said power zoom lens, and a linkage which moves said support plate in association with the movement of said cam plate when said power zoom lens is moved between said photographable position and said storage position and moves said image pickup unit into or out of the photographing light path. 
     
     
       7. A digital camera having an image pickup device which picks up an image formed by a photographing lens comprising: a photographing lens comprising at least two lens groups of which the rearmost lens group does not move in the optical axis direction;   a cylindrical sealing member which forms an image pickup unit in which said rearmost lens group and said image pickup device are made integral with each other and which seals a light path defined between said rearmost lens group and said image pickup device; and   an image pickup unit moving device which supports said image pickup unit to move into or out of the photographing light path.   
     
     
       8. A digital camera according to claim 7, wherein said photographing lens is a zoom lens and wherein said rearmost lens group does not move in the optical axis direction during the zooming operation or focusing operation of the zoom lens. 
     
     
       9. A digital camera according to claim 8, further comprising a lens driving device which moves the remaining lens group of said photographing lens into the portion of said photographing light path from which said image pickup unit has been retracted. 
     
     
       10. A digital still camera according to claim 9, wherein said photographing lens comprises first and second lens groups which are moved away from or close to each other along the optical axis, so that upon picking up an image, said first and second lens groups are moved forward and thereafter said image pickup unit moving device moves said image pickup unit into the photographing light path, and upon retraction, said image pickup unit moving device retracts said image pickup unit from the photographing light path and thereafter said second lens group is moved into said portion of said photographing light path from which said image pickup unit has been retracted. 
     
     
       11. A digital camera according to claim 10, wherein said image pickup unit is provided with a support plate which is pivoted on the camera body to rotate about a shaft which extends in parallel with the optical axis of the zoom lens, said image pickup unit being secured to said support plate so that said image pickup unit can be moved into or out of the photographing light path in accordance with the rotation of said support plate. 
     
     
       12. A digital camera according to claim 11, wherein said zoom lens is provided with a lens barrel which moves said first and second lens groups between a photographable position and a storage position, and a linkage which is adapted to move said image pickup unit into or out of the photographing light path through said support plate in association with the movement of said first and second lens groups. 
     
     
       13. A digital camera according to claim 11, wherein said zoom lens is a power zoom lens and is provided with a cam plate which is moved in a direction perpendicular to said optical axis of said power zoom lens in association with said zooming operation of said power zoom lens, and a linkage which moves said support plate in association with the movement of said cam plate when said power zoom lens is moved between said photographable position and said storage position and moves said image pickup unit into or out of the photographing light path.